Ladies and Gentlemen
If you believe the weatherperson, warmer days are just
around the corner. It had better come quickly. I have a lot of forlorn looking robins
in my yard debating about flying south again.
Monday the 11th starts the business of the
Town with a closed meeting at 6:00 pm to discuss personal matters. At 7:00 pm it’s
the General Committee meeting. The agenda includes:
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Setting up a Transit Advisory Committee to
guide our expanding transit service
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Further discussion of the Museum’s proposal
for an exhibit at our waterfront
-
An update on the King Street “Big Dig”. This
project keeps moving because of funding considerations. Time to nail it down
-
Direction on installing sidewalks for the Tiffin
Phase 6 development
-
A request by Shelter Now for financial relief
for their affordable housing project
-
A request by the MPUC on what Council (the shareholder)
wants from a sale or merger of MPUC
Tuesday April 12th starts at the County with
the semi-monthly Council meeting. At 3:00 pm Georgian College, Barrie hosts its
Innovation Day – a chance for the students to show us how they are going to revolutionize
the business world. That evening I will be meeting with a group of men to plan the
first “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event in Midland. This initiative is a result of
a request from Kathy Willis for our community, especially its men, to step up
to the challenge of ending violence against women. Look for further updates in the
weeks ahead.
At 7:00 pm you are invited to a very special book launch
at MCC. Midland’s own Lawrence Fox will be releasing his first book Cold War Warrior.
This gentleman is a true war hero with a story that puts James Bond to shame. Your
chance to meet a true Canadian hero.
Wednesday the 13th is International Pink Shirt
Day, to promote anti-bullying. Communities across Simcoe County are being called
upon to Paint the Town Pink. Please don a bit of pink to show your support. Also
we wish Jack Webster a happy 100th birthday. A big celebration at
the Villa at 2:00 pm
At 6:00 pm at the Town Hall is the first public meeting
on the OPP costing. The meeting starts with a presentation by the OPP on what
is anticipated through the process. Then the discussion turns to how the Town
will organize its resources to respond to the costing information, expected to be
received this summer.
On Thursday the 14th at 7:30 pm at the MCC, It’s
a Day in the Life. Fred will be interviewing Gertie Beaucage, a First Nations
cultural knowledge consultant. The conversation will
explore the aboriginal perspective on First Nations relations
with Canada.
Friday April 15th will start with the Affordable
Housing Committee meeting at County. The Committee will be preparing their report
card to the province showing how it is meeting its first target of 895 new affordable
housing units by 2018.
At 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm it’s the annual Midland Home
Show at the NSSRC. Your chance to make a dent in that “to do” list you have
been building all winter. At 3:00 pm I
take part in a photo op for the provincial Seniors Summer Games coming to
Midland this August 9-11.
You are invited to Sound of the Trumpet, a celebration of
baroque trumpet music, presented by Brookside. The evening will feature trumpeter
Justin Bland and Soprano Dawn Bailey. The event is at 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s. Tickets
available at the MCC.
Weekend
Saturday
-
9:00 am until 4:00 pm it’s the Midland Home Show
at the NSSRC
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7:00 pm - Sistema Huronia Music Academy hosts
its Variety Show at the Alliance church on Yonge Street. You will hear how
young folk in our community have personally grown through their experience with
music. No ticket but a free will offering.
Council Issues Update
MPUC
Our MPUC is part way though their search for a
sale/merger partner. Not surprisingly they have recently written to Council to
clarify Council’s objectives, as the sole shareholder, as to what the business arrangement
should look like. All parties appreciate that lot of time can be wasted if we
are not clear on where we are headed.
Your Council will need to be more directive on how we
best ensure that Midlanders will have a fairly priced quality electrical service
for decades to come.
OPP
The first public meeting on the OPP costing process
occurs this week. The OPP will likely advise us that the costing will go fairly
quickly, with their response by this summer. The Town will then have six months
to decide whether to accept or not.
The Town has its own work to do. It will have to assess
what the MPS currently costs. It will have to gather service level and quality information.
And if the pricing differential is significant, Council will have to act
quickly to answer the question “Do we move to an OPP service or stay with the
MPS?”
*****
With help from The Home Depot Canada
Foundation demolition has been completed on the upper floor at 522 Elizabeth, home
of the Guesthouse Shelter. Construction is
set to begin on June 11th. The Guesthouse needs your help to
complete this much needed project. Donations can be made in person or by mail at
The Guesthouse, 522 Elizabeth St. Midland, L4R 2A1, or online at www.theguesthouseshelter.ca.
The Guesthouse Shelter provides emergency
shelter, meals and resources to adults, youth and families experiencing homelessness
in North Simcoe. When completed the 3,500 square foot fully accessible facility
will include spaces for 14 individuals to stay overnight and a dining room that
can accommodate up to 40 for meals.
Gord McKay
Your
Year for Getting Aboard – Midland is on the Move - 2016
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